Automatic coupling for pipe lines, electric lines on railway and other vehicles and the like



-AUTOMATIC v()OUPLING FOR PIPE LINES, ELECTRIC LINES ON RAILWAY AND OTHER VEHICLES, AND THE LIKE 7 Filed March 4, 1935 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 .May 28,1935. w, KAISER ML 2,003,082

M/i/fie/m Kath-er- 6 flansBQ/fie INVENTORS ATTORNEYS w. KAIS ERET AL AUTOMATIC COUPLING FOR PIPE LINES,

MayYZS, 1935. 2,003,082

ELEcTaIQmNEs on RAILWAY AND OTHER VEHICLES, AND THE LIKE 3 Sheets-Shgii- 2 Filed March 4, 1935 e if... K S a. WWW BM in sw M m #0 m May 28, 1935. w, KAISER ET AL, Z;003,082

manure COUPLING FOR PIPE LINES, ELECTRIC. LINES WMRKILWAY' AND 0mm VEHICLES, AND THE LIKE Filed March 4, 1935 'S-Sheets-Sheet 5 wz'l/l/m KaiserfiamrBa/zfe INVENTORS ATTORNEY-5 Patented May 28, 1935' omen";

' AUTOMATIC COUPLING FOB. PIPE LINES,

ELECTRIC LINES ON RAILWAY AND OTHER VEHICLES AND LIKE Wilhelm Kaiser and Hans Balke, Lichtenberg,

Berlin, Germany, assignors to National MalleableandSteel Castings Company, Cleveland, Ohio, a corporationjof Ohio Application March 4, 1935, Serial No. 9,156 In Germany September 2, 1933 e 7 Claims.

This invention relates to automatic train line connectors One of its objects comprises the provision of connectors of novel construction, presenting the advantage of structural simplicity together with marked efiiciency and reliability in the'connecting of train lines notwithstanding disalignment of the longitudinal axes of the connectors throughout wide ranges. In this connection, a feature of the invention resides in a connector having guiding surfaces so constructed and arranged as to provide a facile and effective gathering action with an opposing connector, under widely varying extents of relative lateral and vertical displacement; The invention further provides for so mounting the connectors with'respect to their associated couplers asto facilitate the gathering action and also to enable reduction of the extent of forward projection of the lateral forward wing. A novel and improved means for supporting the connectors is also provided. In addition the invention comprises novel means for securely maintaining the connector heads in properly-coupled relation after coupling. Other features of the invention wi be hereinafter described and claimed. I In the accompanying drawingsz- Figure 1 is a top plan View showing a connector embodying our'invention, in conjunction with an associated coupler shown in broken lines, and part of the connector mounting beingshown fragmentarily and other parts omitted.

Figure 2 is a view in side elevation showing the connector, the associated coupler, and the means for supporting said connector from said coupler.

Figure 3 is a front elevational view of the connector.

Figures 4-7, inclusive, are diagrammatic views illustrating the coupling action of the connectors under various conditions of disalignment. Referring to the'drawings, there is shown at 2 a coupler of the conventional Willison type, having rigid jaws 3, 4, together with a recess 5 intermediate said jaws, The action of such couplers being well understood in the art, no description thereof need here be given. It may be further observed that While the present invention is shown in conjunction with couplers of the Willison type, such is merely for purposes of illustration, and the utility of the in-' vention is not restricted to couplers of any'particular type. The connector, designated generally as 6, is supported from coupler 2 by means later to be more specifically described.-

The connector 6 comprises a head 1 having a bottom of the face 8.

fiat, vertically extending, front face 8, preferably, though not necessarily, rectangular in shape. The vertical center line a of saidface 3; intersects the longitudinal center line b of the connector. .Projecting from said head I on opposite sides of the face 8, are a pair of arms or Wings 9, It; the wing 9 extending diagonally forwardly, and the Wing 10 diagonally rearwardly. Extending diagonally forwardly from one side of the facet? is a surface H, which meets the outer or forward surface ID of the wing IE and forms therewith a projection 01',

ridge l2. From the opposite side of said face there extends diagonally rearwardly or inwardly a surface 1 3 which merges with the forward sur- 15 face 9 of the wing 9, at a distance fromthe center line a of theface 8 equal to'the distance of the juncture of surfaces ll'and lll from said center line. Said surface. l3 forms'with the surface 9 a recess l4 complemental to said ridge l2- andadaptedto' receive the ridge or corner I! of an opposing connector at the same time that the first mentioned'ridge l2 fits into the recess I4 of said opposingconnector. While the face 8 may contain any desired number of openings corresponding to the number of pipes or lines to be joined, such as the air brake line, the signal air, and the steamheating line, only one opening l5-is shown by way of'illustration for communicating with the airbrake line.

A third wing or arm l8 projects diagonally downwardly, forwardly, and laterally from the Said arm may conveniently be formed separately from the connector and secured to the bottom of the head 'l'bybolts l9 passing through. an extension 18 of said arm (Fig. 2), or by'welding or in anyother suitable manner. V

Figure 4 illustrates how opposing connectors 6, S are gathered or brought into interconnected position, despite pronounced lateral separation of their longitudinal axes b, .b. It will be noted.v

from this view that as one connector approaches the other, the wing E0 of one engages wing 9 of the other,-and wing 9 ofjthe first the wing ID of the other, with consequent bringing of the connectors into proper mating position, with their axes b, bin alignment and ridge H. of each fitting into recess 54 of the other. It may be 3 noted in this connection that the surfaces 9', 50 Ill ofthe wings of each connector are parallel 1 to each other.

In Figure 4 the direction of lateral displacement of the connectors is such that the arms K have been carried laterally away from each '55 Cit other. Figure 5 illustrates the gathering action when the lateral displacement is in the opposite direction from that shown in Figure 4, i. e., with center line b of one connector on the opposite side of center line'b of the other connector from that shown in Figures. Under these conditions, .as one connector approaches the other the laterally off-set side surface 21 of one arm it engages the corresponding surv face 2| of the other, whereby the relative' approach of the connectors continues, said connectors are restored into proper alignment and are caused to intermesh properly.

Figure 6 shows how the longitudinal axesb, b of the opposing connectors are brouglit'into alignment by the intercepting surfaces: 9', l0, when said axes are at an angle to other. The surface 9' of one connector lying on the inner side of the obtuse angle formed bythetion, it will be' evident that the opposite surfaces l0, 8' will coa'ct in the same manner as those which engage each other" under the conditions shown in Figure 4, with'resultant straightening of the axes b, b;

In Figure 7 the connectors are shown displaced vertically; It will be seen that as one approaches the other'theupper surface 22 of the vertical arm l8 ofgone. will,fin cooperation with the under surface 23 of projection 9 of the other, cause the two connectors to be restored vertically intov proper relation to each other. It will be noted that the lower s'urfacel23 of the Wing 9 of each. connector extends diagonally upwardly and outwardly from the bottom surface of the face 8 to a point'adjacent the end of said wing. Through the cooperation of the. top surface 22 of the vertical arm 18 of one connector'wi'th lower surface 23 of wing 9 of 'the'other, the two connectors are brought into propenvertical alignment in any of their positions" of lateral displacement within the lateral gathering range of said wing 9. In the final stage'of the movement of' the connectors into vertical alignment, said surface 22 of arm E8 on one connector engages thev bottom surface 25 of face 8- of the.other. The. inclination of theedge 23 and the relative rise of arm 18 determine the vertical gathering range. If, in addition to being vertically disaligned, the connectors are displaced laterally in the direction indicated in Figureb, with their respective arms IS in engageable' relation, the sidesurface 2! of one of said arms, in cooperation with the corresponding surface 2! ofthe other, causes the connectors to approach each other vertically as Well as.laterally,,-while the final vertical alignment is accompished through the. coaction of uppersurface 22 of one arm- 58 with bottom surface 24 of the other connector;

From the above description it will be seen that the vertical gathering surface 23 (together with the lowermostsurface 24 of the face 8) and the surfaces 2! and 22 of the lower wing i8 form,

in effect, a continuous guiding or gathering.

surface devoid of interruptions or. projections.

The effectof this .is that any part of wing l8;

may contactanypart. of surface 23 or 24 or the wing 18 ofqan' opposing connector and move along those surfacesor the opposing wing to bring the two connectors into vertical and lateral alignment. The primary purpose of the rearwardly extending wing E!) is to effect angular alignment of the connectors, as show'nin Fig ure 6. 1 I

The upward slope of surface 23 is highly advantageous in that the vertical gathering range is' increased without increasing the overall nag-m1 of the connector and said surface 23 may extend upwardly above the horizontal center of the connector head, or may extend substantially to the top edge of the connector if the maximum"vertical gathering range is desired. "It has been found that a large vertical gathering range is required on certain types of cars and that on these cars overall vertical extent of: the connector is limited. It is apparent therefore that our invention utilizes practically all of the vertical extent of the connector for vertical gathering.

Fitted into a socket in the connector head I and secured thereto in any suitable manner, as by pin 26, is a rod 21' which extends rearwardly from said head. A lug 28 depending from the coupler2 has secured thereto by bolts 29 a bracket as, preferably comprising a set of leaf spring elements 3!, extending rearwardly and downwardly from the lug 28. Fastened to the rear end of the leaf spring bracket through a U-bolt 32 is an angle bracket 33, comprising .a plate having horizontal and vertical portions 34, 35'. A vertical slot 36 in the bracket portion 35 receives vertical keys 31, 31, carried by the rod 27, whereby said rod, and hence the connector, is slidable longitudinally with respect to the bracket 33. The slot 38 provides sufiicient clearance with respect to the keys 31, 31, to enable the connector'to angle-through substantial extents in all directions, both vertically and horizontally, with respect to said bracket; but at thefsametime prevents. rotation of the connectormore than a slight amount about its longitudinal axis.

Interposed between-washers 38, 39 on rod 21 is a spring 40, which not only assists in supporting the connector but also is compressed whenever the connector is coupled to a mating connector and thereby maintains the connectors in tightly coupled relation. The washer 38 bears against a collar 4| pinned or otherwise secured to-the rod 21, while the washer 39 is integral -with, or fastened to, a sleeve 42 slidable on said rod. -Said washer 39 bears against suitable lugs 43 which project forwardly from the bracket portion 35' and provide pivot seats' about which the rod 21 and assembled parts may turn for vertical and horizontal angling. The sleeve 42 and washer 39 are slotted to receive the vertical keys 31, 3'! to permit said rod 21 to slide freely with respect to said sleeve and washer. Threaded onthe end of the rod 28 is a nut 44 which is adapted to engage the rear face of the bracket.

position of the connector, diverges rearwardly with respect to the coupler center line, from a point on the face of the connector to the rear supporting bracket 33; both the connector face and said supporting bracket being displaced to one side of the coupler center line, and the lateral displacement of the slots 36 of said bracket from said coupler center line being greater than that of the center of the connector face from said coupler center line. eral gathering by the connector wing 9 to be accomplished with increased facility, since the arm of the turning moment (i. e., the perpendicular distance from the vertical pivotal axis of the connector in bracket 33 to the line of action of the force applied to said wing 9) is increased. Thereby also the extent of forward projection of the wing 9 may be reduced, due to said increase in moment arm.

It is to be noted further that the construction above described enables the wings 9 and ID to be of prolonged extent laterally, with the extremities of said wings at all times outside a direct line between the points on brackets 35 at which the connector rods 2! pivot. As a result, contact between the extremities of the wings of opposing connectors will serve to bring the same into horizontal alignment without dan ger of jack knifing or swinging of the connectors into positions transverse to the couplers, with their heads out of alignment.

Also, due to the small ratio of extent of for Ward projection of the wings to the distance from the connector face 8 to the rear bracket portion 35, the vertical gathering of the connectors is insured without buckling upwardly or downwardly. I Y

The point of attachment of the spring 45 to the connector head is, as shown in Figure 1, at one side of the connector axis b, as a result of which the connector is, when uncoupled, titled slightly around said axis to the extent permitted by the fins 31, 3'! in cooperation with the sides of theslot 36. When coupling is elTected the connector head is rotated back about said axis into a horizontal position. Due to the off-set connection aforesaid between the spring 45 and the connector, the connector head is normally maintained in a definite position about the axis 1) and it is assured that the ridge !2 of the connector will contact the guiding face 9 of the opposing connector whereby there is avoided the possibility that the ridges l2 of opposing connectors might foul and prevent coupling, as might arise if either of the connector heads were free to rotate in. opposite directions about its longitudinal axis. It may be observed that the ridges aforesaid need not extend the full height of the connector face 8. The face 8 of the connector may be slightly cut away as indicated at 4B in the lower right hand corner to prevent accumulation of foreign material on the connector face from interfering with proper This enables the latengagement'with, the face zof anropposing connector. f 1

As shown at 4Q, the forwardly extending lateral wing 9 may be provided with ,anouterextension, theface of which issubstantially parala lel to the face 8 of the. connector., The aforesaid extension 49 further increases the, lateral gathering range. I v

The terms and expressions which we have employed are used; as terms of description and not of limitation, and we have lac-intention, in;

the use of suchterms and expressions, of exeluding any equivalents of the features shown" and described or portions thereof, butrecognize ons are possible. within] that various modificati the scope of the invention claimed} I V 1 This application is a continuation in part of our U. S. application S. N. 757,474, filed December 14, 1.934. i 1 @Weclaimzi f' V 1. An automatic'train line connector comprising a front face, a wing extending laterally and forwardly from said'face and having a lower guiding edge extending upwardly and outwardly from the lower extremity of said face, a second wing extending downwardly and forwardly from the lower edge of said front face and also extending therefrom in a lateral direction opposite to that of the first named wing, a guiding edge of said second wing and the lower guiding edge of, the first named wing forming portions of a continuous guiding surface so arranged that upon engagement of theguiding edge of either the first or the second named wing by the second named wing of an opposing connector the latter wing is adapted to move along said guiding surface to the juncture between said guiding edges of said wings for aligning said connectors verticallyand laterally.

2.'An automatic train line connector com- 3. An automatic train line connector comprising a front face, guiding wings extending laterally ,from opposite sides of said face, one of said wings inclined forwardly and the. other rearwardly of said face, the lower edge of the;

forwardly projecting wing forminga guiding surface and extending outwardly and upwardly,

and a third wing inclined forwardly, downwardly and laterally from the lowermost extremity of said face and adapted to engage the lower edge of the forwardly extending lateral wing of an opposing connector to move said connectors into vertical alignment, the first and secondnamed wingsbeing adapted to cooperate with complementary wings on an opposing connector for aligning said connectors laterally.

4. An automatic train line connector comprising a front face, diagonally extending lateral wings having vertical front surfaces, one of said wings having, its lower edgeextending outwardly and upwardly; said front surfaces of said wings beingadapted, to cooperate with complementary surfaces on an opposing connector for aligning said connectors only' ina lateral direction and maintaining lateral stability of said connectors, each of said connectors having a forwardly and downwardly extending guiding member joining said front face at its lower ex tremity, said guiding member cooperating with the lower edge of a wing of an opposing connector for securing vertical alignment and with aIcorresponding guiding element on said opposing connector forlateral alignment.

5. An automatic connector comprising a front face extending vertically with'respect to the and forwardly from the opposite side of said face, said wings being adapted to cooperate with complemental wings on a second connector for.

effecting lateral alignment of said faces, a ridge at one side of said first-mentioned face, said first-mentioned face-having at its oppositeside a recess complemental to said ridge, said ridge and recess being adapted to engage a complemental recess and ridge on said second connector to maintain the faces against relative lateral displacement, and means maintaining said faces against relative vertical displacement.

6. An automatic connector as defined by claim 5', wherein the ridgeand recess are formed by surfaces joining the face with the respective I Wings.

7. An automatic connector as defined by claim 5, wherein said means for maintaining said'surfaces against relative vertical displacement comprises an arm projecting downwardly and forwardly from the connector face and extending laterally on the opposite side of the connector center line from that on which the forwardly projecting wing extends.

'W'ILHELM KAISER.

HANS BALKE. 

